Day 13
Day 13 AM
Today hopefully will get us through the third map. How exciting is that? Once we get from Sanderson to Del Rio today - 120 miles- we will be on to the last 4 maps.
Quiet night last night as I think the Alpha team was a bit tired. Today’s ride will be hot (surprise) but not much climbing.
We will be going through the land made famous by Judge Roy Bean. Known for his outrageous humor and iron six gun hand he established Langtry, Texas. It was a lawless city and has a museum which I will stick my head into. I will not be carrying but will make sure my backup is in place.
You know we are in trouble when the cycling map says no services at all for 89 miles. Another clear example that the service van is vital on a trip such as this.
MS donations were strong yesterday. Thanks for continuing the push as we strive to get to 100k.
Mike and I were on the Gunkscast last night that will be released Tuesday. This is a group of endurance athletes back in Ulster County, NY, that do a great job talking about happenings in the sports world. They asked both Mike and me great questions from a cyclist perspective and it is worth a listen. Shout out to them.
(Listen to a previous interview with Gunkscast here and look for the link in tomorrow’s blog post!)
Each day this venture seems more and more achievable. Let’s face it, this Alpha team was never destined to fail, but the whole plan is coming into focus. Despite all the issues we are exactly on schedule and will persevere.
PM recap
Here we are in Del Rio, Texas. The official end of map number three. We start map 4 tomorrow and that one is a five day map for us and will take us nearly all the way through Texas. Some would argue that at the end of the day tomorrow we are halfway. Put me on that list. Fourteen of twenty eight days. Good stuff. But what about today? How did it go?
1. Today was a painful 119 mile ride. Our second longest as of yet. We started in on some of the hills of Texas. I had never heard of them prior to planning for this trip. Kind of wish I never had. However we reached the goal of Del Rio by tonight and remain on schedule.
2. I have to mention our lunch in Langtry. Around mile 60 out of Sanderson we got to the truly one horse town of Langtry. Our host for lunch, Jessie of Jessie’s Wagon Wheel Store, was charming if unprepared. He suggested that he could make us four sandwiches all the same and it would use all of his provisions (my word not his). It was quite an unusual meal topped off by our contentious recycling.
A nice man who left an impression on us all.
3. Border patrol vehicles. They are so prevalent that they outnumber all vehicles on the road down here in southern Texas two to one. I hope they are achieving their goals as it is a huge commitment.
4. No flats the entire day! A first for the Alpha team. Hoping for more of the same.
5. Today one of our riders Antonio celebrated his birthday and he pedaled a mile for every year of his life. The 58 miles proved to be his biggest number so far and we were fortunate to get something named in his honor.
6. Jane fought through a tough day as she consistently managed to swap with Antonio right before our biggest climbs. Bad timing.
7. Never got to the Judge’s museum today. Admission was free but it was a mile off the course. Neither Mike nor I do any extra spinning if we can avoid.
8. It being a Sunday, donations fell off a bit for MS. Let’s get that reinvigorated for the start of this next week. Pass the word: we need a bit over 40k to get to our 100k goal.
